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O U Students Association
Welcome from the OUSA President
More about OUSA | The Association Officers"Welcome to the OUSA website. We hope you will find information of interest whatever your link with the Open University. However, I would particularly like to welcome you if you are an OU student. If you are registered to study with the University, whatever the level or intensity of your studies, you are almost certain to be one of the c250,000 students represented by our Association. This website will provide you with a wealth of information about us, about how you can benefit from what we do and about the many opportunities for students to get involved in their Association. I do hope you find what you are looking for on this site, but if not, just contact us directly.”
Marianne Cantieri, OUSA President
What's happening in OUSA
OUSA Futures: what's it all about?
OUSA Futures is now at last OUSA present! Conference 2011 gave a resounding ‘thumbs up’ to the new Constitution alongside electing a new President, team of Association Officers and Central Executive Committee. The new team will be working hard over the coming months and we’ll get fuller details of that work programme to you as soon as we are able.
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Read more about OUSA Futures
SIGN THE PARLIAMENTARY PETITION NOW!
OUSA is calling on all OU students to sign the ePetition on the UK Parliament website. We need to reach 100,000 signatures to stand a chance of getting a debate which could help ensure that our University remains genuinely open. We have the largest student body in Europe – but in a University that really does think that every individual student matters. Let’s show that every individual OU student also cares. First sign the petition, then pass on the link to friends and family. If you need more information, check out our news page.
Sign the Petition here
Big Issues in H E: what do they mean for us?
These days, when we talk about the world of Higher Education (H E), we are often talking about the world quite literally. The increasing globalisation of H E adds to the complexity of the environment in which we and our university have to operate.
Link to CEC Paper on Fees, Funding and Higher Education
What OUSA offers you
Get your N U S Extra card or OUSA Membership card
Did you know you can get up to 25% discount on goods and services with your N U S Extra card? The Extra card will give great bargains, all for just £11 a year. All O U students are eligible for their Extra card, and you can apply online by following the links below. OUSA Membership card is FREE and also offers many discounts. Don't miss out any longer!
More about NUS Extra & Membership cards | Apply for Extra card
Buy O U branded merchandise online!
You can browse through our product range where we offer a wide range of exciting gift items including T-shirts, commemorative jewellery, executive toys and much more. So…if you looking for an extra special gift for a student friend or just want a treat for yourself, please visit our Web Shop today.
Visit the OUSA webshop | Buy reduced price items
Download your past exam papers online!
You can improve your studies by purchasing past exam papers for your courses from OUSA's Web Shop. Download your past papers straight onto your computer, just £1.25 per paper, or alternatively you can order them online and have them posted to you for £1.75. Papers available for a wide range of courses.
Download past exam papers | Order papers for posting
OUSA and the O U working together
Representing the student viewpoint to the University is one of the most important functions of OUSA. Apart from having a student elected member of the O U Council, OUSA annually appoints 'Central Representatives' to sit as student members on Senate and the majority of the principal Governance Committees, as well as on all the Faculty Committees.
More on Central Representative | See the Central Representatives online training pack
Not yet discovered an online OUSA forum?
Did you know that OUSA provides a whole host of online forums? Whatever your interests, hobbies, or academic area, OUSA has an online forum for you. Share your thoughts with other online contributors and contribute to your online student community. OUSA's new online forums are now located on the Open University's online teaching service. You can access them from your student home page. Look for 'O U Student Association Forums' in the left hand column.
Go to OUSA online forums
More goods and services
Student Academic Links (SALs)
The role of the Student Academic Link is to provide students within their region with a point of contact for academic-based issues. Follow the link below for more information and how to find your SAL.
Contact a SAL
Student Support Links (S S Ls)
Our Student Support Links and Disabled Student Links are O U students who volunteer their time to help others with problems that are affecting their studies. They're just an email message away!
Go to Support Links
Disabled Student Links (D S Ls)
Our Student Support Links and Disabled Student Links are O U students who volunteer their time to help others with problems that are affecting their studies. They're just an email message away!
Go to Disabled Student Link
O U Student publication
O U Student is the student magazine, run by students for students. Letters, or excerpts from them, make a useful contribution to our newspaper. Online, downloadable versions are available from the link below.
Latest version of O U Student
Peer Support Online service
Our Peer Support service is a user-friendly means of offering support, offering help and advice. The Peer Supporter Online service is completely confidential.
Contact a Peer Supporter
Residential school reps
Our representatives play an important role at Residential Schools, providing you with social events and 'in residence' support at all main UK sites throughout the whole of the summer period.
More about Residential School reps
The O U Guarantee Transitional Fees for Current Students as they announced fees for new students from 2012
Want to put forward the student viewpoint to the O U? Then why not apply to become one of our Central Reps?
Would you like to be part of the resi school experience? Then why not become one of our resi reps?
OUSA events calendar
10 - 12 February 2012 - Officer Team Meeting
2 - 4 March 2012 - Central Executive Committee Meeting
31 March 2012 - Societies Standing Committee Meeting
22 - 24 June 2012 - OUSA Conference
13 - 15 July 2012 - Central Executive Committee Meeting
Useful OUSA & O U links
Useful external links
Useful education news links
Useful disability support links
Take the OUSA Challenge - New quizzes
PayPal - Now you can donate online!
Wish to donate to the student charity OUSET? Your kind donation will help those in financial need to study at the Open University. Follow the link for more details on OUSET, or click on 'Donate' below to make your donation. Thank you very much. More on OUSET